Multifunctional fiber-optic theranostic probe for closed-loop tumor photothermal therapy

The combination of optical fiber and phototheranostic agents has emerged as a promising strategy to address the challenges of limited light penetration depth and systemic toxicity of nanomaterials. However, the multiplexing potential of fiber-optic probes remains underrated, resulting in enlarged incisions, repeated invasive procedures, and a lack of real-time therapeutic feedback. Herein, we propose a scheme for single‑fiber multifunctional integration leveraging wavelength division multiplexing technology.

As a proof-of-concept, by co-immobilizing pH indicator, temperature indicator, and photothermal agent with non-overlapped excitation bands onto tapered optical fiber surface, a fiber-optic theranostic probe enabling closed-loop tumor photothermal therapy was developed. Pre-treatment, the probe can achieve tumor edge identification through revealing the tumor pH gradient. Intra-treatment, the photothermal agent can convert optical energy into heat for photothermal therapy, while simultaneous temperature monitoring enables precise thermal dose control. Post-treatment, rapid efficacy assessment can be achieved via real-time monitoring of the reversal of acidic tumor microenvironment.

Animal experiments validate the excellent therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility of the probe. This research opens new avenues for multifunctional fiber-optic theranostic platforms, where modular wavelength assignment enables customizable minimally invasive interventions and feedback monitoring, holding significant promise for both clinical practice and mechanistic exploration.

Cancer has become one of the most significant global public health challenges. In 2022 only, approximately 20 million new cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide while nearly 10 million cancer-related deaths. Motivated by this scenario, substantial efforts have been directed toward developing diagnostic and therapeutic methods with enhanced accuracy and efficacy. Theranostics, which integrates diagnostic and therapeutic functions into one spatially colocalized platform, allows for immediate, targeted therapy after diagnosis and enables real-time monitoring of therapeutic dose and efficacy, paving the way for personalized precision medicine.

In the last decade, photo-theranostic has garnered widespread attention due to its advantages of excellent specificity, high spatiotemporal controllability, and non-ionizing nature. However, several critical challenges prevent its clinical translation. One major obstacle is the inherently limited penetration depth of light (typically less than 10 mm) due to the scattering and absorption by tissues. Although fluorescence dyes in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window exhibited unprecedented penetration depth, their design and synthesis remain a great challenge.  Another significant limitation arises from the systemic toxicity caused by non-specific accumulation of nanomaterials on normal tissues and organs.

Against this background, the combination of optical fiber and phototheranostic agents has emerged as a promising solution Flexible and compact optical fibers enable end-to-end light transmission with minimal loss, facilitating sensing and treatment of deep-seated tumors, including surgically inaccessible sites. Furthermore, immobilizing phototheranostic agents on or within optical fibers effectively mitigates off-target toxicity through localized confinement. Benefitting from these features, optical fibers have been successfully applied for minimally invasive tumor therapy and in vivo biomarker monitoring.

Despite recent advances, the multiplexing potential of fiber-optic probes remains underrated. Current research remains limited to single-function-per-fiber implementations or suffers from inter-functional crosstalk, which primarily arises from spectral overlap in the absorption or emission bands among the functional reagents used. Consequently, achieving multi-parameter monitoring or integrated theranostics demand multi-fiber configurations. This inevitably increases device rigidity and dimensions, decreasing compatibility for interventional techniques while elevating risks of tissue damage and post-treatment inflammation .

Inspired by the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology that leverages wavelength separation to enhance the transmission capacity of a single optical fiber, which has been widely used in fiber-optic communication, we propose in this work a scheme for fiber-optic multifunctional integration through modular wavelength assignment of photo-indicators&sensitizers to fully utilize the wavelength reservoir while suppress inter-functional crosstalk: (1) the UV–visible bands are employed for fluorescence probe excitation and emission to match the spectral characteristics of conventional fluorophores; (2) the NIR band, within the biological transparency window, is employed for photosensitizer excitation, ensuring compatibility with existing clinical therapeutic lasers and photosensitizers.

Specifically, a pH indicator (HPTS-IP, derivative of 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrene trisulfonic acid), a temperature indicator (LnMOF, lanthanide metal-organic framework material), and a photothermal agent (ICG, indocyanine) were co-encapsulated within a hydrogel matrix and immobilized onto tapered optical fiber surface. Crucially, the excitation bands of these agents do not overlap with each other.

Consequently, the function of this probe can be switched on demand by using different excitation wavelengths. Clinically, this compact probe (diameter = 440 μm) can access tumor lesions via interventional procedures, enabling closed-loop tumor photothermal therapy with real-time feedback. Pre-treatment, the probe can achieve tumor edge identification through revealing the tumor pH gradient. Intra-treatment, the photothermal agent converts optical energy into heat for photothermal therapy , while simultaneous temperature monitoring enables precise thermal dose control. Post-treatment, rapid efficacy assessment can be achieved via real-time monitoring of the reversal of acidic tumor microenvironment (TME). This research establishes a paradigm shift for multifunctional fiber-optic theranostic platforms, offering significant potential for advancing both clinical practice and tumor mechanism research.


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Atmospheric dust gives plants nutrients through their leaves, study finds

Research in New Phytologist shows that plants can acquire nutrients not only from the soil but also from atmospheric dust that settles and dissolves on their leaves, releasing elements such as phosphorus and iron.

In a Mediterranean field study simulating dust events, dust application increased plant macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations through the plants' mildly acidic leaves. By integrating field observations with dust-deposition estimates and soil nutrient data from different regions, investigators found that during dust events, daily nutrient inputs via foliar uptake can match or exceed soil-derived inputs.

"This suggests a shift from the traditionally soil-centric view of nutrient acquisition toward a vegetation-mediated pathway, where the plant canopy acts as an active interface for capturing and processing atmospheric particles," said Anton Lokshin, a postdoctoral researcher at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

 "In nutrient-limited ecosystems, this leaf-based nutrient pathway may represent an important and currently overlooked contribution to plant nutrition and ecosystem functioning." The study was conducted by Anton Lokshin in the laboratory of Dr. Avner Gross, in collaboration with Dr. Daniel Palchan (Ariel University) Prof. Marcelo Sternberg (Tel Aviv University), Tom Goren (Bar Ilan university), and Andre (Mahdi) Nakhavali (IIASA).

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Stopping algae blooms with bacteria-busting buoys

Algae blooms make a pond's surface shine in mesmerizing green hues. But if the microorganisms responsible are cyanobacteria, they can also release toxins that harm humans and wildlife alike. A team reporting in ACS ES&T Water has designed a "set it and forget it" system for distributing algaecide using specialized buoys tethered at the site of a bloom. In tests, the buoys removed nearly all cyanobacteria without the need for frequent reapplication.

Algae blooms occur when extra nutrients in the water—likely from fertilizer runoff—cause tiny microorganisms like algae and cyanobacteria to proliferate.

In 2014, one such algae bloom in Lake Erie near Toledo, Ohio, rendered drinking water unsafe for hundreds of thousands of residents. Now, a team of researchers from the University of Toledo seeks to create an algaecide treatment system that puts a stop to a bloom before it has even started.

 The team, including Umberto Kober, Hanieh Barikbin, Youngwoo Seo, Yakov Lapitsky and colleagues, designed a system that releases algaecide steadily over a period of weeks or months, making it less expensive and more efficient than existing options that require frequent reapplication.

 The team constructed small, medium, and large-sized buoys out of PVC pipes, forming either a "T" or cross shape. Hydrogel disks were inserted into the pipe openings to control the diffusion of the liquid algaecide into the surrounding water. The buoys were then filled with a commercial hydrogen peroxide-based algaecide, which, upon immersion, slowly diffused through the hydrogel disks. The buoys were also engineered so that once the algaecide was gone, the buoy fell to its side, visually indicating that a refill was needed.

To test their performance, the small, algaecide-loaded buoys were put in a beaker with one liter of cyanobacteria-containing water collected from Lake Erie and monitored for two weeks. Every day a small portion of water was replaced with new lake water to ensure the buoys were continually exposed to fresh cyanobacteria. This way, the team could evaluate whether the buoys provided sustained algicidal activity rather than killing the cyanobacteria early in the process. Researchers found that the cyanobacteria were almost entirely eliminated within a week, and other microbes remained largely unscathed. Researchers estimate that their buoys could reliably release algaecide for at least four consecutive release cycles, each lasting 35 days.

Though further research is needed, including enhancements to prevent microbe growth on the buoy's surface, the researchers say that this work overcomes challenges in sustained and targeted algaecide treatment.

"If successfully scaled up, this concept could enable early mitigation of harmful algal blooms without the need for labor-intensive repeated algaecide applications," says Lapitsky.

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Study reveals mechanisms underlying oxygen-tolerant energy conversion in a marine photosynthetic bacterium

Photosynthetic bacteria do not release oxygen during photosynthesis but can convert solar energy into chemical energy with remarkably high efficiency. They also utilize near-infrared light—wavelengths unused by plants—and thrive in diverse environments, including freshwater, seawater, and hot springs.

Among these organisms, the marine purple nonsulfur bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum is a model species notable for its strong tolerance to oxygen. However, the molecular mechanism by which its light-harvesting and energy-converting LH1-RC complex maintains highly efficient photosynthesis under oxic conditions remains unclear.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba used cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the structure of the protein complex responsible for photosynthesis in Rhodovulum sulfidophilum. Their analysis uncovered a previously unrecognized membrane protein and revealed structural features that could explain how this organism achieves efficient energy conversion despite the presence of oxygen.

In their study published in Communications Biology, the researchers determined the structure of the LH1-RC complex at an exceptionally high resolution of 1.8 Å using cryo-EM. Their analysis identified a previously unknown membrane protein called protein-3h, which is located within the LH1 opening. They further discovered a non-heme Fe ion positioned near the triheme cytochrome subunit, which is coordinated by a histidine residue and water molecules rather than by heme. This configuration indicates that the Fe ion might act as an intermediary site for electron transfer.

These findings provide deeper insight into the photosynthetic complex in R. sulfidophilum and could contribute to future applications, such as genetically engineered phototrophic systems and environmentally relevant technologies, including the bioremediation of hydrogen sulfide-containing wastewater.

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Giant virus DNA may help polar algae survive harsh environments

 In the game of survival, you can't always go it alone. Tiny algae living in the harsh conditions of the world's polar oceans appear to be better able to withstand the cold, high salinity, and extreme UV radiation, thanks in part to giant virus DNA in their genome, according to a study published in Current Biology.

Compared to tiny viruses like the flu or the common cold, giant viruses known as nucleocytoviricota (NCV) are massive. Their genomes can be larger than those of some bacteria and can carry hundreds of genes. Instead of relying entirely on a host's cells to replicate, like most viruses, they often carry genetic instructions involved in processes such as metabolism and DNA repair.

Giant virus DNA has already been detected in common algae, but researchers from the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science at the University of Miami wanted to know whether it was present in polar algae, helping them survive. And they didn't have to go anywhere to get their answers.

The team analyzed the already-sequenced genomes of nine different polar algae. They used a computer program called ViralRecall to scan algae DNA for sequences that didn't match typical algae sequences but did resemble those of giant viruses. In particular, the software searched for specific viral protein families almost exclusively found in giant viruses called giant virus orthologous groups (GVOGs). And when the researchers found them in the algae, they labeled them giant endogenous viral elements (GEVEs).

Genetic record breaker

The study found giant virus DNA in all of the polar algae, especially a unicellular green algae called ICE-L, a member of the Chlamydomonas genus. It contains more than 400 giant virus-derived regions that encode over 25,000 viral genes. This is the most extensive viral endogenization (where viral DNA becomes a permanent part of a host's genetic code) in any eukaryote (organisms with cells that have a true nucleus).

To see whether and how these viral genes help the algae survive, the scientists studied publicly available RNA sequencing data from a previous experiment in which ICE-L was subjected to stressful conditions.

Repurposing viral DNA

Approximately 40% of the viral genes were expressed (active) during these tests. Hundreds of these genes were switched on in direct response to the harsh conditions. For example, under high UV, the algae increased expression of a viral protein normally used for DNA replication. The researchers believe the algae has repurposed the viral DNA for its own needs.

"The stress-responsive expression of diverse GEVE-encoded genes suggests that some viral elements may have been co-opted to enhance host fitness under challenging conditions," wrote the team in their paper.

This suggests that viruses are not always the enemy but can actually help an organism survive.

"Our findings position giant viral endogenization as a key driver of genome content, regulatory complexity, and environmental adaptation in polar algae."

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Alternative pathways in proteasome biogenesis deciphered

 A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Potsdam and the University of Cologne has deciphered the step-by-step assembly of the eukaryotic proteasome. Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells have a clearly defined nucleus and different compartments within the cell. The proteasome is one of the key molecular machines responsible for the degradation of proteins that are defective or no longer needed within cells.

The central protease chamber of the proteasome consists of two identical halves, each composed of two rings comprising seven alpha or seven beta subunits. The two inner beta rings form a chamber in which defective proteins are broken down.

The study results, published in Nature Communications, titled "Structural transitions in the stepwise assembly of proteasome core particles," show that the assembly of this vital complex does not follow a rigid, linear pattern, but rather utilizes several alternative pathways—a discovery that challenges established views in research. The findings have far-reaching implications for understanding cellular protein quality control, aging and diseases such as cancer or neurodegenerative disorders, in which proteasome dysfunction plays a role. They also open up new avenues for the development of targeted drugs that influence proteasome biogenesis. Imaging early assembly intermediates Using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM),

a team led by Professor Dr. Petra Wendler of the University of Potsdam and Professor Dr. Jürgen Dohmen of the University of Cologne has characterized the structures of six early proteasome precursor complexes (13S-PC to 15S-PC) in yeast—including previously unknown intermediate stages. The data show that the proteasome can be assembled via two different pathways, which differ in the order in which the beta subunits are incorporated into the rings of the proteasome: one pathway in which the Beta1 subunit is incorporated first, followed by Beta5 and Beta6, and another in which Beta5 and Beta6 are incorporated first.

"That was a surprise," says Petra Wendler. "Beta1 can enter the complex independently of Beta5 and Beta6—an indication of a flexibility in proteasome biogenesis that we hadn't expected."

Chaperones guide and time activation The study also reveals how the assembly helper proteins Ump1 and Pba1-Pba2—so-called chaperons—control the assembly process. A previously unknown region of the Pba1 protein inserts between two alpha subunits and acts like a molecular wedge, keeping the central pore of the maturing proteasome open.

It is only released after the final stage of maturation, ensuring that the complex is only activated once it is fully assembled. Pba1-Pba2 is then recycled, while Ump1 is degraded by the mature proteasome. The results also show that the catalytic centers of the proteasome, where proteins are broken down after assembly, are only correctly structured—and thus activated—once the two halves (15S-PC) have joined together.


 This is mediated by the entry of the last of the seven beta subunits (Beta7). This mechanism prevents premature activation of the proteasome before the chamber is closed. "The assembly of the proteasome is a precisely choreographed process," says Jürgen Dohmen. "Our work demonstrates how structural changes in chaperons and proteasome subunits are precisely coordinated to ensure correct assembly of the proteasome and activation only once all components have taken up their correct positions."

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How Light Detects Disease in 29s #biophotonics #researchawards#lighting

Biophotonic probes for bio-detection and imaging are advanced optical tools designed to detect, monitor, and visualize biological processes with high sensitivity and precision. These probes interact with light to identify biomolecules, pathogens, and cellular structures in real time, enabling early disease diagnosis, targeted therapy monitoring, and improved biomedical research. #Biophotonics #BiophotonicProbes #BioDetection #BiomedicalImaging #OpticalBiosensors #FluorescenceImaging #Nanobiotechnology #MedicalDiagnostics #CancerDetection #OpticalImaging #LifeSciences #PhotonicsResearch #BiosensingTechnology #AdvancedDiagnostics #Spectroscopy #BiomedicalInnovation #HealthcareTechnology #SmartDiagnostics #OpticalProbes #BiotechResearch More Info: Visit: biophotonicsresearch.com Nominate Link: https://biophotonicsresearch.com/award-nomination/?ecategory=Awards&rcategory=Awardee Registration Link: https://biophotonicsresearch.com/award-registration/

Whaling’s Shadow: Bowheads in 30s #researchawards #biophotonics #biotechnology #biology

 Past intensive whaling pushed bowhead whales to the brink of extinction, drastically reducing their population over centuries. Known for their incredible lifespan and resilience in the Arctic, these whales are still recovering today. However, slow reproduction rates, climate change, increased shipping, and human activities continue to threaten their future.

#BowheadWhales #SaveTheWhales #MarineConservation #OceanLife #ArcticWildlife #ClimateChangeImpact #ProtectMarineLife #WildlifeConservation #EndWhaling #OceanEcosystem #SustainableFuture #NatureProtection #Biodiversity #EnvironmentalAwareness

Dinos hatched eggs less efficiently than modern birds, researchers show

 What do we really know about how oviraptors—bird-like but flightless dinosaurs—hatched their eggs? Did they use environmental heat, like crocodiles, or body heat from an adult, like birds? In a new Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution study, researchers in Taiwan examined the brooding behavior and hatching patterns of oviraptors. They also modeled heat transfer simulations of oviraptor clutches and compared hatching efficiency to modern birds. To do so, they experimented with a life-sized oviraptor incubator and eggs.

"We show the difference in oviraptor hatching patterns was induced by the relative position of the incubating adult to the eggs," said senior author Dr. Tzu-Ruei Yang, an associate curator of vertebrate paleontology at Taiwan's National Museum of Natural Science.

"Moreover, we obtained an estimate of the incubation efficiency of oviraptors, which is much lower than that of modern birds," added first author Chun-Yu Su, who attended Washington High School in Taichung when the research was conducted.

Building a dinosaur

The reconstructed oviraptor, Heyuannia huangi, lived between 70 and 66 million years ago in what today is China. Estimated to be around 1.5 meters long and weighing around 20 kg, it built semi-open nests made up of several rings of eggs.

The incubating oviraptor's trunk was made from polystyrene foam and wood for the skeletal frame and cotton, bubble paper, and cloth for the soft tissue. Eggs were molded from casting resin. In the two clutches used in the experiments, eggs were arranged in double-rings based on real oviraptor clutches.

"Part of the difficulty lies in reconstructing oviraptor incubation realistically," said Su. "For example, their eggs are unlike those of any living species, so we invented the resin eggs to approximate real oviraptor eggs as best as we could."

When the team ran experiments to find out if clutch attendance of a brooding adult or different environmental circumstances may have impacted hatching patterns, they found that in colder temperatures, where a brooding adult attended the clutch, the eggs' temperatures in the outer ring differed by up to 6°C, which could have resulted in asynchronous hatching, a pattern where eggs in the same nest hatch at different times.

In warmer conditions, the difference in egg temperatures in the outer ring was just 0.6°C, suggesting that oviraptors living in warmer conditions may have exhibited a different pattern of asynchronous hatching because they could use the sun as an additional, powerful heat source.

"It's unlikely that large dinosaurs sat atop their clutches. Supposedly they used the heat of the sun or soil to hatch their eggs, like turtles. Since oviraptor clutches are open to the air, heat from the sun likely mattered much more than heat from the soil," Yang explained.

Better hatchers?

The team also investigated how oviraptor incubation efficiency compares to that of modern birds. Most birds use thermoregulatory contact incubation (TCI), where adults sit directly on the eggs to transfer heat.

TCI requires three prerequisites—the adult bird must be in contact with every egg, be the main heat source, and maintain all eggs within a constrained temperature range—which oviraptors didn't fulfill. For example, their egg arrangement prevented the adult from making full contact with all eggs in the clutch.

"Oviraptors may not have been able to conduct TCI as modern birds do," said Su. Instead, these dinosaurs and the sun may have been co-incubators—a less efficient incubation behavior than that displayed by modern birds.

Yet, the combination of adult incubation and an ambient heat source—perhaps a behavioral adaptation associated with the evolution from buried to semi-open nests—isn't necessarily worse.

"Modern birds aren't 'better' at hatching eggs. Instead, birds living today and oviraptors have a very different way of incubation or, more specifically, brooding," Yang pointed out. "Nothing is better or worse. It just depends on the environment."

• The team pointed out that their findings are specific to the reconstructed nest and are limited by the fact that today's climate does not resemble the Late Cretaceous climate, which may have impacted the results. Oviraptors also exhibited a longer incubation period than modern birds.

  Yet, the study advances our understanding of oviraptor brooding strategies through innovative approaches. It represents an important bridge between physics-based simulations and paleontological interpretations, potentially enabling paleontologists to investigate topics for which approaches were limited until now.

  "It also truly is an encouragement for all students, especially in Taiwan," concluded Yang. "There are no dinosaur fossils in Taiwan, but that does not mean that we cannot do dinosaur studies."
  
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Why a Pink Bug Hides Better Than You Think #biophotonics #biotechnology #researchawards

 A fascinating discovery by scientists reveals that a bright pink insect uses its striking color not to stand out, but to blend into its natural environment. This surprising form of camouflage helps the insect avoid predators by mimicking pink flowers or plant structures in its habitat. The study highlights how evolution can produce unexpected survival strategies, where bold colors serve as effective disguise rather than warning signals. Such findings deepen our understanding of adaptation, camouflage, and biodiversity in the natural world.

#BrightPinkInsect #Camouflage #NatureDiscovery #Evolution #Biodiversity #WildlifeScience #InsectAdaptation #NatureResearch #ScientificDiscovery #AnimalCamouflage #Ecology #BiologyNews #NatureInnovation #EnvironmentalScience #WildlifeStudy

AI Just Built a Logic Gate Inside Cells?!#biophotonics #biomedical#scienceawards #researchawards

 Researchers have developed a groundbreaking RNA-based synthetic NAND switch in living cells using artificial intelligence. This innovative genetic circuit mimics the logic of a digital NAND gate—one of the fundamental building blocks of computing—by combining two riboswitches that respond to specific molecules. The system turns gene expression off only when both molecular inputs are present, while remaining active otherwise.

#SyntheticBiology #RNAEngineering #AIBiology #GeneticCircuits #RNATechnology #Biocomputing #GeneRegulation #Bioengineering #MolecularBiology #Biotechnology #AIinBiology #Riboswitch #LivingCells #BioInnovation #SystemsBiology #GeneticSwitch #BiophotonicsResearch #NextGenBiotech #ScientificBreakthrough #FutureMedicine